Growth performance studies in transgenic Cyprinus carpio

Two growth experiments with transgenic common carp (Cyprinus carpio) containing growth hormone (GH) gene constructs were conducted in earthen ponds using the communal testing method. The first experiment was performed in summer under optimal growth conditions (high ambient temperatures and optimal feeding). It tested three groups of F-2 transgenic carp containing the FV-1/csGH gene construct (the common carp beta-actin proximal promoter fused to the chinook salmon growth hormone cDNA) from different integration events, and a non-transgenic control group. No significant difference in growth rates was found between the transgenic groups and the control. The second experiment was performed in winter under low ambient temperatures and minimal feeding. It compared three groups of fish: one group of F-1 transgenic carp had the FV-1/csGH gene construct; another the FV-2/cGH gene construct-a complete common carp p-actin promoter (Liu et al., 1990) fused to the common carp growth hormone cDNA; and the third was a non-transgenic control group of the commercial carp in Israel. In this experiment, the two transgenic groups showed higher growth rates as compared to the control (P < 0.001). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.